The Barbados cherry (Malpighia emarginata), or acerola, is a highly nutritious, tart-sweet tropical fruit renowned for having 50–100 times more vitamin C than an orange. These fast-growing, evergreen shrubs are perfect for warm climates, featuring bright pink flowers and red fruits that are excellent for boosting immunity and making juices or jams.

A single handful of these berries can provide the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C. They are also high in Vitamin A, iron, and antioxidants.

They offer a sweet-tart, almost fruit-punch-like taste, often used in jams, jellies, and desserts.

Thrives in full sun, grows 8–10 ft tall (often used as a hedge), and prefers well-drained soil. They are hardy in USDA Zones 9b–11 and can be damaged by temperatures below 28°F.

They bear fruit from June to December, producing, red, thin-skinned fruits that are highly perishable.